While using H4 sharp turns felt labored...

Hello, I drive a 12' TRD Off-Road. I am admittedly not as familiar with the 4 wheel package as I should be. Recently I switched into H4 from park, and motored around a bit. While attempting a low speed sharp turn, steering cut fairly far but not abnormally, something just didn't feel right. The truck felt like I was applying brakes while actually was just on the gas.

Does 4wd comprimise your turning radius? Was I doing something wrong?

Thanks in advance!

 

It's driveline binding

You don't want to turn sharply in 4WD on pavement or hard surfaces that don't allow for any slippage

 

you shouldnt be in 4wd and turning on dry pavement... you are binding the driveline, which is not good. you will break something if you continue to do it. it is normal, that is how a 4wd truck operates. its not AWD.....

 

Do not drive in 4wd on dry pavement.
-You may bind your drivetrain and cause your transfer case to die.

Do not turn sharply in 4wd.
-You will bind your CV joins (which is the laboring feel) and cause premature wear, or even failure of your CV joints.

This not an All-Wheel drive system. These trucks do not have a central diff which allows for the different rotational spin of the front and rear wheels allowing you to take those sharp turns and drive on payment. A 4WD system needs some slip involved to release tension in the driveline.

 

Even when using it properly, there will be extra force required in order to turn the front wheels. Especially being unfamiliar with it. Just don't turn sharp on pavement and you'll be fine.

 

I think so! You are engaging four wheel drive, and since the back wheels don't turn
like the fronts do, it'll feel different. Hopefully you don't practice this maneuver on pavement. Read the manual on use of the four wheel drive system for safeties sake
and for your truck.

enjoy

 

God I love TW, in minutes all the correct info.

Need I say it again? No 4wd unless you are on a surface that allows slippage or you can damage your truck.

 

Yeah, even on gravel the truck will feel heavy in 4WD HI at low RPM's, it's normal no big deal. It's not really binding up, it's just that the motor doesn't feel as responsive because it's powering 4 wheels. Stomp on the gas and you won't feel any binding at all, that thing will leap like a tiger.

 

If you are on pavement though and have 4wd on and turn sharply and then floor it to overcome the binding, you will wonder why parts are breaking and fluid is on the ground.

 

The truck isn't gonna detonate if you turn sharp on pavement in 4WD , it's just not a habit you wanna get into

 

.
(Note to self) ... I need to engage my 4x4 once in a while to keep the "4x4 juice" in the it flowing ...
.

 

Detonate no, but possibly break yes. Unlike Top Gear, when metal bits are binding against each other the answer isn't "POWER!!!!!!"..

And if you are on dry pavement in 4wd and turn sharply at low speed the binding can be so bad you completely stop your truck. Sure OP could use the motor to overpower his new tires grip, but the strain on the front end drive components would be very high.. at the least.

 

Yeah I've driven slow and ( gasp ) turned sharp on pavement in 4WD , truck didn't explode or break , but like I said , not a habit you wanna get into

 

OP still posting? This feels like fishing from a boat with downriggers.

 

Agreed. This is my first 4x4 and about a week after picking it up in an unusually bad rainstorm I dumbly thought, "Hey cool, I'll put it in 4H!" just to check it out about a week after I got it. I left it on when I got to my destination and the truck stopped cold when I tried to turn tightly into a parking spot. I had a hunch I had screwed up like OP and TW confirmed it. Mine didn't detonate obviously but I'm glad I didn't try to "gun it" to overcome the bind too.

 

I swear I thought this was a troll post at first. 4WD vehicles are not like AWD vehicles which have a center differential and are made to be used on dry pavement.

In short, don't use 4WD when you don't need it and put it in 2Hi when turning on ground that doesn't allow for slippage. Same for locking differentials.

 

My Tacoma is my first 4WD vehicle too....I posted almost the same thing right after I got it. Gotta start somewhere I guess. I still turn it on while on pavement.....if I'm going straight. Gotta keep the 4WD lubed up somehow. Not many other places around here to use it!

 

We will all do stupid things sometime, I remember a couple months after having my truck, I was driving up my street one day "pretending I was cool." I was pretending I was driving a manual and pulled back the 4WD shifter to H4 without my front hubs locked in. She made terrible grinding sounds

 

I wish I had a 4wd shifter.. but the switch works fine, and although not as cool will just have to do.

 

That's a caveat major. One could say major havok would result.